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L.O. OROWELL. DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR WEB PRINTING MACHINES. No. 317,741. Patented May 12, 1885.

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L. G. GROWELL. I DELIVERY MECHANISM FORWEB PRINTING MACHINES. No. 317,741.

Patented allay 12, 1885.

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PATENT LUTHER o. OROWELL, QFBROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE & 00., on NEW YORK, N. v.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR WEB-PRINTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,741, dated May 12,1885.

Application filed June 22, issa. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER O. OnowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Delivery Mechanism for WebPrinting Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that class of printing-machines which are adapted to print both sides of a continuously-moving web, sever the same into short lengths or sheets, and fold and deliver said sheets in proper form for the carrier or for mailing, it being the object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this character capacitated to produce and deliver products containing dift'erentamounts of printed matter, so as to meet the requirements of those newspaper establishments which issue papers of sizes which vary with different days of the week.

To that end the invention consists in a delivery apparatus containing various combinations of mechanisms for accomplishing this result. The details of said apparatus, and also its organization and operation, will be hereinafter so fully described and particularly pointed out that further preliminary .descrip tion is deemed unnecessary.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a plan view of a delivery apparatus embodying the present invention, some of the underlying parts being omitted and certain of the upper parts shown in dotted lines for the sake of avoiding confusion. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken upon the line 00 w of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is atransvcrse vertical section taken upon the line 00 m of Fig.2; and Figs. 4 to 15, inclusive, are views illustrating the order in which the forms will be placed upon the form-cylinders, and the manner in which the sections of the web and the sheets will-be associated to obtain the different products.

Referring to said drawings, it is to be understood that 100 and 101 are the last form and impression cylinders, and 99 the usual inkin g-rolls of an ordinary rotary web-printin g mechanism. To give to the printing apparatus the desired range of capacity, the cylinder 100 and its companion formcylinder (not shown) will be of alength equal to the width of two of the full sheets to be produced, and of a circumference equal to the length of two such sheets; and in order that the product may be folded in the most desirable manner the forms will be so placed that the columns of matter will lie circumferentially of the cylinders.

The web, after being perfected and leaving the cylinder 101, is led around guide-rolls 22 23, in passing the latter of which it is acted upon by the slitter 24, by which it is split into two equal sections. After leaving the roll 23 the sections of the web are led around a turning bar, 98, so as to pass forward at right angles to their previous path of travel, after which they are led around a guide-roll, 25, to the cutting-cylinders 102 103. These cylinders, which, as here shown, are of the same size as the form-cylinders, are provided with the usual blades and grooves, 28 29, by which the sections of the web are partially severed upon the lines between the sheets. After passing the cutting-cylinders the sections enter the bite of the series of accelerated tapes 10 11, which operate in the usual manner to complete the severance of the sheets and provide working spaces between them in their line of travel.

The tapes 10 pass around pulleys 30, thence above a gathering or collecting cylinder, 104, and thence beneath pulleys 3i, above pulleys 32, and downward across the faces of a pair' of longitudinal folders, 105 106, returning around pulleys 33 34, while the companion series 11 pass around pulleys 35 and stop short of the gathering-cylinder, returning around pulleys 36.

The gathering or collecting cylinder 104 may be of any of the approved forms for such cylinders, but is here shown as equipped in the manner described in United States Letters Patent No. 192,510, it being provided with stationary guides 9, which co-operate with the tapes 10 to conduct the sheets onto its surface, and vibrating switches 8, which are operated in the usual manner to guide the sheets therefrom, and also with a series of auxiliary tapes, 12, which pass around. pulleys 37 38 39 and operate to hold the sheet or sheets onto the cylinder during the collecting operation.

7 The longitudinal folders 106 maybe of the construction shown in United States Letters Patent No. 233,997, but are preferably of that shown in my application for United States Letters Patent filed December 10, 1881. The specific construction of these folders is so fully set forth in said patent and application as to render a detailed description unnecessary in the present case. The system of taping, by which the sheets are conducted over and around these folders and to the subsequent mechanism, will, however, be explained. For this purpose each of the folders is provided with two series of tapes, 18 19 and 20 21, arranged as follows: The series 18 pass around pulleys 43, thence around pulleys 47 and downward along the inclined side of the folder 106,

thence between the pulleys 54 55 which form.

the external turners of said folder, and thence between the pair of folding-cylinders 109 110, returning around the cylinder and pulleys 51. The companion series 19 pass around pulleys 42, thence around pulleys 46, and downward along the opposite side of the folder 106, and thence between the pulleys 54 55 and the folding-cylinders 109 110, the middle tape of the series returning around the cylinder 109 and a pulley, 50, while the marginal tapes of the series pass horizontally above a pair of folding-rolls, 67, thence around pulleys 62 and down ward around pulleys 61, returning around pulleys 60, 70, and 56. The series of tapes 20 pass around pulleys 41,thence around pulleys 45 and downward along the inclined side of the folder 105, thence between the pulleys 52 53, which form the external turners of said folder, and thence between a pair of foldingcylinders, 107 108, returning around the cylinder 108 and pulleys 49. The companion series 21 pass around pulleys 40, thence around pulleys 44 and downward along the opposite side of the folder 105, and thence between the pulleys 52 53 and the folding-cylinders 107 108, the middle tape of the series returning around the cylinder 107 and a pulley, 48, while the marginal tapes of the'series pass horizontally above a pair of folding-rolls, 66, and return around pulleys 57 and 48.

(Jo-operating with the tapes 21 and 19 to conduct the sheets from the cylinders 107 109 to the folding-rolls 66 67 area series of tapes, 17, which pass around pulleys 63, thence beneath the cylinder 109 and around pulleys 62, 61, 60, and 59, thence beneath the cylinder 107, and around pulleys 58, returning around pulleys 64 and 65.

The cylinders 108 110 are each provided with a set of sheet-holding grippers, 4, and a tucking-blade, 5, while the companion cylinders 107 109 are each provided with cooperating folding-jaws 6, all of which devices are of the usual construction, and consequently require no specific description.

The folding-rolls 66 67 are provided with co-operating vibrating folding-blades 68 69,

which are operated in the usual manner to fold the sheets from between the tapes 17 21 and 17 19 into the bite of the rolls. Stationary stops 1 are also provided for arresting the sheets in proper position above the rolls. As the sheets issue from between the rolls 66 67 they pass in front of stationary guides 71 r 72 and are taken by the rotating flies 73 74 which are of the construction shown in United States Letters Patent No. .269,02l, and deposited upon the slowly-moving tapes or aprons 15 16, to be conducted from the machine.

Leading from the pulleys 57 58 is a pathway formed by a pair of stationary guides, 2, which lead to a rotating cylinder-fly, 112, of the construction shown in my application for United States Letters Patent filed August 25,1882. This cylinder-fly is provided with a series of tapes, 13, passing around pulleys 75 76, for holding the sheets to its surface, and with a series of slowly-moving tapes or an apron, 14, for receiving the sheets as they are delivered;

To aid in conducting the web and sections from the printing to the delivery apparatus, there are provided two series of forwardingtapes, 81 82. The series 81 pass around the roll or pulleys 22, thence upward around the roll 23, and thence across the delivery apparatus just beneath the turning-bar 98, and around the pulleys 83, as shown in Fig. 2, and by dotted lines in Fig. 1, returning around pulleys 84. The companion series pass around pulleys 85, located just below the roll 22, thence around the rolls 22 and 23, thence inward around pulleys 86, returning around pulleys 87.

The various parts of the delivery mechanism just described receive motion from the impression-cylinder 101 through the gears 77 78 79 80, said parts being connected to each other by suitable gears, so as to be properly timed both with relation to each other and to the printing mechanism, all of which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and consequently requires no detailed description.

The printing and delivery mechanism which has just been described can be operated to produce and deliver either of the following products, viz: A full sheet having two or three folds two full sheets associated together and folded in the same manner; four full sheets associated together and folded in the same manner, one full sheet and one half sheet associated together and folded in the same manner; or two full sheets and two half-sheets associated together and folded in the same manner.

The operation of the apparatus in producing the different products is as follows: When it I is desired to produce a product consisting of single full sheets, or what will usually be fourpage papers, folded as described, a web of full width will be used, and the forms will be placed upon the form-cylinders so as to print the pages in the order shown in Fig. 4. The web, after being split upon the line z by the slitter24, will have its sections carried beneath the bar 98 by the tapes 81, and the sections will then be turned around said bar and entered between the cutting-cylinders and into the bite of the tapes 10 11, where they will be parted upon the lines or a". The switch 8 will be made inoperative, so that the sheets of the two sections will be conducted directly past the gathering-cylinder onto their respective longitudinal folders, where they will receive their first fold, as indicated in Fig. 5. As the once-folded sheets enter the bite of their respective folding-cylinders 107 108 and 109 110 they will be taken by the grippers 4, and at the proper time folded transversely by the blades 5 into the jaws 6, from which they will be taken by the tapes 17 19 and 17 21 and carried into position above their respective folding-rolls 66 67, the stops 1 being of course turned upward so as to arrest said sheets in the proper position. As the (now twice-folded) sheets arrive and are arrested in proper position they will be folded between the rolls 66 67 by the blades 68 69, thus receiving a second longitudinal fold, after which they will pass downward in front of the guides 71 72 and be laid by the flies 73 74 upon the tapes 15 16. When operating in this manner,the apparatus will print and deliver four full sheets, or fourpage papers, at each revolution of the form cylinders. i

If it is desired to produce an eight-pag paper, or a product consisting of two full sheets associated together and folded as described, the forms may be placed upon the form-cylinders so as to print the pages in the order indicated in Fig. 6. The web will be split upon the line z z and the sections severed upon the lines as x in the manner already described. The switch 8 will be put in operation, so that each alternate sheet will be carried around upon the gathering-cylinder and associated with the one following, so that the sheets of the two sections will pass to their longitudinal folders in pairs, where they will receive their first fold, as indicated in Fig. 7, after which they will be further folded as already described.

The forms, instead of being placed upon the form-cylinders so as to print the pages in the order indicated in Fig. 6, may be so placed as to print the pages in the order indicated in Fig. 8, in which case the product just described can be obtained by leading one of the sections of the web, after it has been split, around the bar 98, and the other around the bar 97, so that the two sections will be associated as shown in Fig. 8. The section of the web which passes around the bar 98 will be led around register-rolls, as 26 27, by which its travel will be so distanced as to bring the pages of the two sections into proper register. In this case the switch 8 will be rendered inoperative, so that the sheets severed from the two-ply web thus formed will pass directly to p the longitudinal folder 106, where they will receive their first fold, as indicated in Fig. 9, after which they will be further folded and delivered by the fly 74 in the manner already set forth.

When operating in either of the manners just described, the apparatus will print and deliver two double-sheet or eight-page papers at each revolution of the form-cylinders.

If it is desired to produce a sixteen-page paper, or a product consisting of four full sheets associated together and folded as described, the forms will be placed upon the form-cylinders so as to print the pages in the order indicated in Fig. 10. The web after being split upon the line z 2 will have its sections associated and brought into proper register in the manner already described in connection with Fig. 8. The two-ply web thus formed will be severed upon the lines a a1, and the switch 8 will be operated so that the suc ceed'in g pairs of sheets thus formed will be associated. The four sheets thus brought together will pass to the folder 106, where they will be folded longitudinally, as indicated in Fig. 11, after which they will be further folded and delivered by the fly 74 in the manner already set forth. When operating in this manner, the apparatus will print and deliver one quadruple sheet or sixteen-page paper at each revolution of the form-cylinders.

I f it is desired to produce a sixpage paper, or a product consisting of one full and one half sheet associated and folded as described, a web of three-fourths width will be used, and the forms will be placed upon the form-cylinders so as to print the pages in the order indicated in Fig. 12. The web after being split upon the line 2 2 will have its sections associated and registered in the manner indicated in Fig. 12, after which the two ply web thus formed will be severed upon the lines was. The switch 8 will be rendered inoperative, so that the pairs of sheets thus formed will pass directly to the longitudinal folder 106, where the full sheet will be folded as indicated in Fig. 13. The sheets will then pass to the final folding mechanism and be delivered by thefly 74 in the manner already described. When operating in this manner, the apparatus will print and deliver two six-page papers at each revolution of the form-cylinders.

If it is desired to produce a twelve-page paper, or a product consisting of two full sheets and two half sheets associated together and folded as described, a web of three-fourths width will be used, and the forms will be placed upon the form-cylinders so as to print the pages in the order indicated in Fig. 14. The web will be split, associated, and severed in the manner just described, and the switch 8 will be operated so as to associate the succeeding pairs of sheets, after which the two full sheets and two half-sheets thus brought together will pass to the longitudinal folder 106 and be folded in the manner indicated in Fig. 15. The sheets will then be further folded and delivered in the manner already described. When operating in this manner, the apparatus will print and deliver one twelve-page paper at each revolution of the form-cylinders.

If it should be desired to deliver either of the products specified with two instead of three folds, it may be done by simply throwing the blades 68 69 out of operation and moving the stops 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The sheets from the cylinder 109, instead of being folded between the rolls 67, will then pass forward between the tapes 17 and 19 and guides 7 into the bite of the tapes 17 21, from which they will be delixered directly to the fly 112, and those from the cylinder 107 (when said cylinder is operating upon sheets, as when four-page or eight-page papers by the aid of the gathering-cylinder are being produced) will also pass directly to the same fly.

To permit the cylinder-fly 112 to run at a slow rate of speed, the pulleys 61 will be so positioned that when both the cylinders 107 109 are operating upon sheets those from thecylinder 109 will arrive at the cylinder 107just in time to be associated with those from that cylinder, thereby causing the sheets to be delivered in pairs instead of singly to the grippers 3 of the cylinder 112.

It will, of course, be understood that by making the blade 68 alone inoperative one'half of the four-page papers, or of the eight-page papers, when produced by the aid of the gathering cylinder, may be deiivered by the fly 112 with two folds, and the other half by the fly7 t with three folds, if desired.

If it should be desired, when producing six or twelve page papers, as just described, to utilize thefull capacity of the printingmechanism, it may be done by using aweb of full width and providing an extra slitter, 95, and turning bar 96, as indicated in Fig. 1. The ends of the form-cylinders may then be provided with forms so arranged that the outside narrow section of the web will receive impressions for two-page papers or supplements. This section will then be led around the bar 96 and between the cutting-cylinders, suitable register-rolls being, of course, provided, if

necessary, to cause it to travel the proper dis tance to bring its pages into proper register with the severing-blade. The half-sheets thus produced will then pass either singly or in pairs over one side of the longitudinal folder 105 without being folded, after which they may either receive two folds and pass to the fly 73, or one fold and pass to the fly 112.

it will, of course, be seen that the sections of the web, instead of bein g severed into sheets before they arrive at the gathering-cylinder, may be led directly to and severed upon said cylinder in the manner described in United States Letters Patent 170,261,084, or that the association of the sheets, when required, may be effected by means of mechanisms such as described in United States Letters Patent N 0. 269,159 and No. 131,217, and also that by associating the sections of the web in the maniier shown in United States Letters Patent No. 181,250 and No. 265,556 the cutting and gathering mechanisms may be arranged parallel with,insteadof at right angles to, the printingcylinders.

In conclusion, it is to be remarked that, if it should be desired, instead of one wide web two narrow webs may be led side by side through the printing mechanism, in which case the slitter may, of course, be omitted.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with means for associating a plurality of webs, of means for severing said associated webs into sheets, and means for associating said sheets, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, with means for associ ating a plurality of webs, of means for severing said associated webs into sheets, means for associating said sheets, and means for folding said associated sheets, all substantially as described.

3. The combination, with means for associating a plurality of webs, of means for severing said associated webs into sheets, means for associating said sheets, and means for longitudinally folding said associated sheets, all substantially as described.

4. The combination, with slitting mechanism arranged to split a wide web into a plurality of sections or narrow webs, of means for associating said narrow webs, means for severing said associated webs into sheets, and means for associating said sheets, all substantially as described.

5. The combination, with slitting mechanism arranged to split a wide web into a plurality of sections or narrow webs, of means for associating said narrow webs, means for severing said associated webs into sheets, means for associating said sheets, and means for longitudinally folding said associated sheets, all substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a sheet-associatin g mechanism, as 101, arranged at right angles to the printing-cylinders, of interposed turning mechanism, as the bars 97 98, all substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the printing mechanism and the turning bar or bars, as 98 97, of forwarding-tapes, as 81 82, for conveying the leading end of the web or sections to said bars, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a plurality of folding mechanisms, as the cylinders 107 108 and 109 110, of a plurality of final-folding mechanisms, as the rolls 66 67 and blades 68 69, a piling mechanism, as the cylinder 112, and means by which the sheets from said first-folding mechanisms can be sent either to said piling mechanism or to said final-folding mechanisms to be further folded, all substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a plurality of folding mechanisms, as the cylinders 107 108 and 109 110, of a piling mechanism, as the cylinder 112 and the tapes 17 19 21, said tapes to a fly or piling mechanism, all substantially 10 as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUTHER G. CROWELL. Witnesses:

T. H. PALMER, J. A. HoVEY. 

